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Alexander Academy

Look up Alexander in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Alexander (/ˈæləɡzˈændər/, /ˈæləɡzˈɑːndər/) is a common male first name, and less common surname derived from the Greek "Αλέξανδρος" (Aléxandros). The most famous is Alexander the Great, who created one of the largest empires in ancient history.

Origin

Etymologically, the name is derived from the Greek Ἀλέξανδρος (Aléxandros), meaning "Defender of the people" or "Defending men" and also, "Protector of men", a compound of the verb ἀλέξεινalexein, "to ward off, to avert, to defend" and the noun ἀνήρanēr, "man" (ἀνδρόςandros). It is an example of the widespread motif of Greek (or Indo-European more generally) names expressing "battle-prowess", in this case the ability to withstand or push back an enemy battle line.

The earliest attested form of the name is the Mycenaean Greek feminine anthroponym 𐀀𐀩𐀏𐀭𐀅𐀨, a-re-ka-sa-da-ra, (transcribed as ), written in the Linear B syllabic script.

The name was one of the titles ("epithets") given to the Greek goddess Hera and as such is usually taken to mean "one who comes to save warriors". In the Iliad, the character Paris is known also as Alexander. The name's popularity was spread throughout the Greek world by the military conquests of King Alexander III, commonly known as "Alexander the Great". Most later Alexanders in various countries were directly or indirectly named for him.

People known as Alexander

Alexander has been the name of many rulers, including kings of Macedon, of Scotland, emperors of Russia and popes.

Rulers of antiquity

Alaksandu, c. 1280 BC

Alexander, more often known as Paris of Troy

Alexander of Corinth, 10th king of Corinth (816–791 BC)

Alexander I of Macedon

Alexander II of Macedon

Alexander III of Macedon, commonly known as Alexander the Great

Alexander IV of Macedon

Alexander V of Macedon

Alexander of Pherae despot of Pherae between 369 and 358 BC

Alexander I of Epirus king of Epirus about 342 BC

Alexander II of Epirus king of Epirus 272 BC

Alexander, viceroy of Antigonus Gonatas and ruler of a rump state based on Corinth c. 250 BC

Alexander Balas, ruler of the Seleucid kingdom of Syria between 150 and 146 BC

Alexander Zabinas, ruler of part of the Seleucid kingdom of Syria based in Antioch between 128 and 123 BC